Gamecocks Sweep Arkansas 7-0
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 10 South Carolina men’s tennis swept No. 31 Arkansas 7-0 early Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Tennis Center. After earning the doubles point, the Gamecocks earned straight-set wins in each singles spot, with No. 3 Daniel Rodrigues clinching the match for South Carolina.
In doubles, Jake Beasley and Toby Samuel played a close set with Melvin Manuel and Adrien Burdet of Arkansas. Beasley and Samuel won three straight games after a 3-3 tie to claim the match.
At the top of the lineup, No. 34 Daniel Rodrigues and Connor Thomson created an early lead over Arkansas’ Enrique Paya and Hunter Harrison and did not look back. The duo won the doubles point with a backhand volley at the net.
In singles, the Gamecocks settled in quickly, taking the first set in all six spots. On Court 4, No. 70 Samuel played a competitive match against Manuel of Arkansas. Samuel battled in the first set to win 7-5, but easily found his rhythm in the second, winning 6-1 with a backhand that Manuel dumped into the net.
Close behind was senior Thomas Brown in the No. 6 spot. With a commanding 6-3 win in the first set, Brown brought that same energy to the second set to win 6-1, bringing in the 3-0 lead for South Carolina.
On Court 1, No. 3 Rodrigues went up early in the first set to win 6-4. He replicated that in the second set, only allowing Alex Reco of Arkansas two games. Rodrigues clinched the match for the Gamecocks with an ace, winning 6-2.
While the Gamecocks already secured the win, they were not finished. On Court 3, No. 87 Raphael Lambling swept Arkansas’ Aleksa Bucan in the first set. The second set was more closely contested, but Lambling took home the 7-5 win with an ace, bringing the team score to 5-0.
No. 79 Thomson had a competitive match in the No. 2 spot against Arkansas’ Nico Rousset. Thomson came back from an early deficit in the first set to win 7-5 with an ace. He continued to fight in the second set, this time securing the 6-4 win with a volley that Rousset sent into the net.
Phillip Jordan was the last to wrap things up for the Gamecocks. After an efficient 6-4 first set win, he played a closer second set with Adrien Burdet of Arkansas. Jordan brought the set to 6-6 to send it to a tiebreak, in which he never fell behind, winning 7-6 (4) with a serve that Burdet returned wide.
The Gamecocks continue conference play on the road when they face No. 20 Kentucky on Sun., Mar. 28, at 1 p.m. ET at the Carolina Tennis Center.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
(10) South Carolina def. (31) Arkansas 7-0
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2, 1*)
1. (34) Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson (SC) def. Enrique Paya / Hunter Harrison (ARK) 6-3
2. Toby Samuel / Jake Beasley (SC) def. Melvin Manuel / Adrien Burdet (ARK) 6-3
3. (71) Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan (SC) vs. Nico Rousset / Alex Reco (ARK) 5-3 DNF
Singles (Order of Finish: 4, 6, 1*, 3, 2, 5)
1. (3) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Alex Reco (ARK) 6-4, 6-2
2. (79) Connor Thomson (SC) def. Nico Rousset (ARK) 7-5, 6-4
3. (87) Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Aleksa Bucan (ARK) 6-0, 7-5
4. (70) Toby Samuel (SC) def. Melvin Manuel (ARK) 7-5, 6-1
5. Phillip Jordan (SC) def. Adrien Burdet (ARK) 6-4, 7-6 (4)
6. Thomas Brown (SC) def. Enrique Paya (ARK) 6-3, 6-1
